OCALA, Fla. – A wildly competitive Mid-Florida Conference softball series concluded on Thursday, as No. 6 College of Central Florida held off Santa Fe Softball in two one-run games to take the series 2-1.

Each game in the three-game series with the Patriots was decided by one run, with each team winning by way of a walk off (SF in Game 1 on Apr. 4, CF in Game 3 Thursday…)

GAME 1 – NO. 6 CF 7, SF 6

GAME-CHANGING PLAYS

Leading 5-4, the Patriots added two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth to go in front 7-4, with the final run coming on a sacrifice fly.

CF ended up needing that final tally, as Keeli Zingaro connected for a two-out home run in the top of the seventh frame to bring the tying run, Sydney Fowler, to the plate. Fowler's hard hit ground ball to third base was fielded cleanly however, and the Patriots took the day's opener.

TEAM COMPARISON

CF compiled 13 hits, while SF had seven.

The Saints committed two defensive errors, while the Patriots had one.

Both of the SF extra-base hits were homers, while CF had two doubles and a homer as well.

There were just two strikeouts in the game, both of which were thrown by Kensley Durrance.

The Patriots swiped four bases, while the Saints were held without a stolen base.

SF BATTING LEADERS

Keeli Zingaro – 3-4, HR, 4 RBI

Abrianna Hickox – 1-3, HR

Jayelyn Carter/Riley Schnyder – Each with a hit and two runs scored…

SF PITCHING STATS

Kensley Durrance (L, 13-7) – 5.0 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 2 K

Sydney Fowler – 1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB

GAME 2 – NO. 6 CF 13, SF 12

GAME-CHANGING PLAYS

The nightcap became just that, a marathon nightcap featuring two high-powered offensive displays.

Both teams produced four runs in the opening inning, but then the Patriots separated themselves to grab an 11-5 lead headed into the sixth inning.

That is when the Saints exploded, however for seven runs to seize a 12-11 advantage. Inning highlights included Story Giebeig belting a solo home run, Schnyder hitting a two-out RBI single, and Zingaro crushing her second long ball of the day for a three-run bomb to put the Saints in front. Zingaro's shot got out in a hurry to center field, and was her fifth to clear the wall this season.

The Patriots had the final say in this one, though, tying the game at 12-12 with a two-out RBI single up the middle in the sixth. A nice throw from Schnyder to Hickox kept the go-ahead runner from scoring and ended the sixth frame, but CF once again struck again with two outs in the seventh, walking it off with another single up the middle.

TEAM COMPARISON

The Patriots compiled 19 hits to nine for the Saints.

SF committed a season-high six errors to just one for the Patriots.

The Saints had three home runs and a double, while CF hit two doubles and a triple.

Once again, the Patriots did damage on the basepaths with five stolen bases.

SF BATTING LEADERS

Abrianna Hickox – 2-4, HR, 4 RBI

Riley Schnyder – 1-2, BB, HBP, RBI, 3 R

Keeli Zingaro – 1-4, HR, 3 RBI

Story Giebeig – 1-4, HR, 2 RBI

Sydney Fowler – 1-3, HBP, 2 R

Addison Joseph – 1-1, 2B

Jayelyn Carter – Hitting streak extended to 13 games by going 1-4…

SF PITCHING STATS

Sophie Abrams – GS, 1.1 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 2 ER, 1 K

Kensley Durrance (L, 13-8) – 5.1 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 K

UP NEXT

Santa Fe (27-19, 4-8 MFC) now sets its sights on a series with Daytona State College. The opening game is Thursday, Apr. 13 at 3:00 p.m. in Daytona Beach, Fla.